Navajo Fry Bread Recipe

Restaurant: Goulding's Stagecoach Restaurant

Artisan: The Goulding's Stagecoach Restaurant Team

About: The staff at Goulding's Stagecoach Restaurant, located in Goulding's Lodge in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, is 100% Navajo. Each staff member has a family fry bread recipe that was handed down from great-great grandmas, to great-grandmas, to grandma, to mothers and so on. Although, they are very similar, each differs a little bit. Together as a team, they have made recipe after recipe of fry bread. The final recipe the team decided on is a combination of all of the team members' input. In Navajo culture it is said that the bread must be made with love and happiness for it to turn out well!

Goulding's Stagecoach Restaurant

Note: The Sprite is important as it helps the bread turn golden brown more quickly, without over cooking the bread. If you're creating this recipe for the first time, you may need to add additional amounts of liquids (water + Sprite). When adding extra liquids, be sure to add equal parts water and Sprite a little bit at a time until the dough reaches a consistency that you can work with.

Goulding's Lodge

A decorated plate of fry bread.

Ingredients:

8 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 1/2 cups room temperature Sprite
Oil for deep frying

Instructions:

Mix all dry ingredients together, then slowly add water, then Sprite, mixing to form a moist ball. It is best to spray hands with oil to work dough into round balls.
Flatten and poke a small hole in the center of each.
Fry until golden brown, turning to brown both sides. If pan frying, use a minimum of 1 inch vegetable oil in the pan. For deep frying, set the temperature at 350 degrees. Use tongs to turn over to brown both sides. Drain well on paper towels.
Serve with honey and powdered sugar to eat as is, or serve with stew, chili or your favorite soup. Make a traditional Navajo Taco by topping with chili or beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese.